By Mrs. Chidimma Okoye, Executive Director, Sir Emeka Okwuosa Foundation
Imagine a woman, a mother, who desperately needed heart surgery to survive. She lived in a rural community in Nigeria, and her only hope was to access the healthcare she needed. But access was a luxury she could not afford. The costs were astronomical—millions of naira—far beyond what someone living below the poverty line could manage. She waited too long to seek the care she needed, hoping for a miracle. Sadly, by the time she was able to secure treatment, complications had taken hold. Her life, her family’s future, and her community’s well being were all devastated.
This story is not unique; it’s the harsh reality many women in Nigeria face every day. Women in Nigeria, especially in rural areas, are the backbone of families and communities. They are the caregivers, the nurturers, and often the primary earners. Yet, despite their vital roles, women’s health is often sidelined. Health services, particularly for women, are severely underfunded and inaccessible. The reality is that many women do not have the financial means to seek treatment for serious health conditions due to deep-rooted gender biases.
Economic inequality prevents them from accessing the healthcare they need, and far too often, they suffer in silence. The theme for this year’s International Women Day is #AccelerateAction, and it’s time we took that call seriously. Women’s health must no longer be an afterthought; it should be a priority. When women are healthy, families thrive, communities flourish, and nations prosper.
It’s time to accelerate action on women’s healthcare in Nigeria, to ensure that no woman has to suffer the way that woman did, and that all women have the opportunity to live healthy, fulfilling lives. Women make up a larger percentage of Nigeria’s population, but their health concerns are still not treated with the urgency they deserve. Gender bias in healthcare systems, coupled with limited resources, leaves women vulnerable. This is particularly devastating for those living in poverty, where every naira counts, and the cost of healthcare is an insurmountable Barrier.
At the Sir Emeka Okwuosa Foundation (SEOF), we are committed to changing this narrative. Through our impactful initiatives, we have worked to provide access to life-saving healthcare for women. One of our flagship projects was the completion of the Dame Irene Okwuosa Memorial Hospital in Oraifite, Anambra State, a rural area where access to healthcare is often limited. The hospital serves as a beacon of hope for countless women in need of medical attention. In just two years, we have been able to perform 119 open-heart surgeries, two vascular surgeries, and ten pediatric cardiology procedures. Women make up 60% of the beneficiaries, and their lives have been transformed because they finally had access to the care they needed. This is a testament to the impact that accessible healthcare can have on women’s lives, and by extension, on the health of an entire community.
At SEOF, we are dedicated to continuing our work to bring health equity to Nigerian women. We believe that when women have access to the care they need, the ripple effect will be felt across the entire country. Let’s prioritize women’s health and accelerate action now, for the future of our nation.